Returning To The Stage: A Reminder of Concert Etiquette

With so many concerts and music events being on hold for the past 3 years due to the pandemic, artists are excitedly returning to the stage for special performances, festivals, and tours.

Fans are just as eager to see their favorite artists perform after waiting for so long; with many feeling the adrenaline rush, it causes them to act out in ways that are not appropriate for the performance. We have seen this in the most recent news with multiple artists getting hit with objects during their performances. In late June, Bebe Rexha was stuck in the face with an iPhone at her New York City performance for her Best F*n Night of My Life Tour. Rexha suffered from a black eye and split eyebrow which required stitches. Following Rexha’s injury, Ava Max was also injured during her L.A. performance after a fan went on the stage and slapped her across the face mid-song. The slap scratched the inside of Max’s cornea. Most recently, rapper Cardi B was in Las Vegas performing when a fan threw their drink at her. Unlike the prior incidents, Cardi responded by throwing her microphone at the audience member. Harry Styles, Kelsea Ballerini, and more have also experienced similar incidents recently.

Perhaps it is time we go over proper concert etiquette, because it only takes one person to ruin the fun for everyone.

DO:

- Have your tickets ready. If purchasing tickets on your mobile device, have them downloaded prior to reaching the venue. This way you have your tickets ready and relieve you of any poor signal stress.

- Be kind to those around you. There is never any need to push, yell, or be mean to those around you. You are all trying to enjoy your night and hear your favorite songs. Instead, greeting those you are seated next to, offering to take a picture, and making simple conversation can lead to a new friendship.

- Check with the rules of the performance space prior to arriving at the venue. Check ahead if they require a certain dimensional-sized bag or clear bags. Try to limit yourself to just your ID, phone, tickets, wallet, and keys.

DO NOT:

- Get too rowdy. It is fun to have drinks or pre-game before the show; however, know your limits. If you are feeling sloppy or sick, step out of the space and go find some water or a bathroom. It’s alway important to stay hydrated and know when to say when. It’s never fun to get sick, but it’s even worse when it happens amidst your favorite songs.

- Throw anything at the performers during the show. We’ve all seen it and laughed when bras or underwear are thrown on stage. And we’ve seen flowers or stuffed animals thrown onto the stage during the performance. However, regardless of what the object is, don’t throw it. Especially if the item is your phone -- many times you won’t get it back and it can seriously injure the performers and audience members around you. Throwing objects is a seriously disrespectful and selfish thing to do during the show, especially if it injures the performer and forces them to stop the show, thereby ruining the night for everyone.

- Be inconsiderate to those around you. When carrying a sign, for instance, make sure it won’t obstruct the view for those behind you. You may want to write a special message or silly joke to your favorite artist; however, if it’s too large or held up for a long period of time, it can seriously ruin the fun for those behind you.

Remember these rules of etiquette for your next music outing it will make your night ten times more fun!